Distributor for fertilizer, lime, or the like



May 16, 1939. L. D. PENDER DISTRIBUTOR FOR FERTILIZER, LIME. OR THE LIKEFiled Feb. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnucn f- LB Panda? L. D PENDE R May16, 1939.

DISTRIBUTOR FOR FERTILIZER, LIME. OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 LB. P2725267 l atentecl May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIQE DISTRIBUTOR FOR FERTILIZER, LIME, OR THE LIKE ApplicationFebruary 8, 1937, Serial No. 124,771

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a distributor for fertilizer, lime or the likeand it is designed primarily as an improvement upon the structuredisclosed in Patent 1,840,602, issued to me on January 12, 1932.

In the patent herein referred to it is possible to close selectedoutlets in the bottom of a hopper, attach delivery spouts totheremaining or unclosed outlets, and thereby deliver fertilizer, lime orthe like, in rows spaced apart predetermined distances. It has beenfound in practice, however, that when only a small portion of the bottomis left open, the undischarged portion of the material left in thehopper, being in constant agitation, sets up an excessive resistance tothe movement of the machine, thereby making it harder to pull. It hasalso been found that this constant agitation of undischarged materialtends, more particularly in damp weather or when the material itself isclamp, to reduce the undischarged material to a sticky, paste-likecondition which tends to pack and cause trouble.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the objections hereinenumerated by providing a machine which, while adjustable for thepurpose of delivering material either broadcast or in bands or streamsany desired distances apart, will nevertheless reduce the resistanceheretofore encountered and also avoid the undesirable packing referredto.

A further object is to provide the interior of the hopper containing thematerial to be distributed so that it will consist of separatecompartments arranged side by side each of which contains an agitatorand also is provided with one or more outlets and with a lid wherebymaterial can be prevented from discharging into any of thesecompartments or, if discharged thereinto, will be agitated and properlydelivered through the outlet,

A further object is to so locate the lids or covers of the closedcompartments that material discharged into the hopper and deposited onthese lids, can be brushed readily into the adjacent open compartment sothat it will not pile or pack between unused outlets as heretofore.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown,

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in rear elevation and partlyin section of a distributor constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through the hopper,said section being taken on line 3-3, Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through aportion of the hopper takenon line 4-4, Figure 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of refer ence I designates ahopper which can be of such length as to extend over two or more rows. Arotatable axle 2 is journalled in the ends of this hopper and alsowithin one or more intermediate bearings 3 and the ends of this axle aresupported by wheels 4. Any desired means can be employed for pulling themachine. For example tongues or shafts 5 can be secured on the hopperand extended forwardly therefrom for attachment to a draft animal.

Secured within the lower portion of the hopper are parallel partitions 6which divide the lower portion of the hopper into separate compartmentsI. Each of these compartments has a desired number of outlets 3 in thebottom thereof and all of the outlets of the several compartments arealined longitudinally of the hopper. Guides 9 are secured to the bottomof the hopper between the outlets and serve to support separatelyremovable closure plates III or, in lieu thereof, plates I I from whichspouts I2 depend, these plates I I having openings through whichmaterial can flow 5 into the spouts.

Secured to the rotatable axle 2 and located Within each of thecompartments I is an agitator I3 of any desired construction. As shownin the drawings this agitator can be made up of arms I l radiating fromhubs I5 which are secured to the axle 2, the outer ends of the armsbeing joined by connecting strips or blades I6. Thus when the axlerotates as the machine is moved forwardly, these agitators will alsorotate within their respective compartments and keep the contents of thecompartments in motion so that the outlets 8 will not become choked.

Secured to opposed faces of each partition 6 and extending above theupper edge of the partitions, are parallel strips I'I cooperating withthe partitions to form channels which open upwardly. Offset strips I8are secured to the end walls of the hopper to provide channels betweensaid walls iii 2i of the lids.

and the strips, these channels opening upwardly as shown particularly inFigure 4.

Normally resting on the strips ll and I8 are lids 19 each of which isformed preferably of a metal plate the side edges of which aredownturned as shown at 20 so as to fit within the channels while thefront and back edges thereof are upturned as at 2|, the angles of theseupturned portions being such as to causethem to lie flush upon thedownwardly converging front and back walls of the hopper. Thus when allof the lids are in place, all of the compartments 7 will be closed andthe lids will form a false bottom constituting the bottom of an uppercompartment. Thus any fertilizer, lime or other material deposited inthe upper portion of the hopper I will bs supported on these lids. Theupper compartment is free from rods, wires or other obstructions whichmight interfere with the free movement of the bulk material over any ofthe lids toward one or more outlets should other lids be removed.

For the purpose of fastening the lids in closed position, holding plates22 are mounted on the inclined front and back walls of the hopper, theseplates being formed with slots 23 through which extend bolts 24. Theplates can be allowed to gravitate downwardly onto the lids id as shownin Figure 3 or, if preferred, could be caused to gavitate against theupper edges of the portions In either case, the plates, when fastened bytightening the bolts 24, will hold the lids against removal oraccidental displacement. For the purpose of removing a lid, the boltsengaging plates 22 used for fastening the lids in position, are loosenedand said plates 22 are slid upwardly out of the path of the lid so thatsaid lid thus can be lifted out of place. It will be noted that each ofthe plates 22 positioned over partitions 6 serves to hold two lids inplace. See Figure 4.

In practice plates ll! are removed from under those outlets 8 from whichmaterial is to be delivered and plates II are substituted therefor,these latter plates being provided with the depending spouts l2 whichcan be made flexible so as to be extended laterally to deliver materialat desired points. If the outlets at the bottom of any of thecompartments '3 are left closed, the lids l8 over said compartments areleft in closed positions thereby to form a sectional false bottom forthe hopper. The lids over the compartments having open outlets areremoved, however. In

Figures 1 and 2 the end compartments I and the central compartment havebeen shown open with spouts depending from the bottoms thereof while theremaining compartments 1 have been shown closed both at their tops andat their outlets.

Fertilizer, lime or other material to be distributed is delivered intothe hopper I. Some of this material will enter the open compartments 1but the remaining material which ordinarily would remain unused in thearea between the depending spouts, will be supported instead within theupper portion of the hopper and upon the lid of the closed compartment.Thus only those portions of the material to be delivered will beagitated and, consequently, the draft upon the machine will be reducedmaterially. The unused portions of material resting on the lids of theclosed compartments will be left undisturbed until one or more of theopen compartments become empty whereupon the operator can brush portionsof the material from the lids of the closed compartments laterally intothe open compartment.

It is to be understood of course that it is not always necessary to usethe delivery spout. Instead the material can be broadcast by fallingdirectly from the outlets. Under any condition, however, the provisionof the separate compartments with their separately removable lids andwith their outlets any of which can be opened or closed as desired,provide a very effective means for controlling the distribution ofmaterial from the hopper, reducing the load upon the draft animal, andpermitting the utilization of all of the material without encounteringthose difficulties present where the material is subjected to constantagitation or churning while located at points remote from the outlets.

What is claimed is:

A distributor for fertilizer or the like including a hopper havingparallel partitions dividing the lower portion of the hopper intoseparate compartments each having an outlet, a closure for each outlet,separately removable lids for the compartments cooperating to form asectional false bottom for the hopper, means on the lids for engagementwith the upper portions of the respective partitions, means on therespective lids for engaging the adjacent walls of the hopper, and meansfor fastening the respective lids into position on said partitions andwalls.

LORENZO DOW FENDER.

